A Christmas tree is seen illuminated after its lighting ceremony in London's Trafalgar Square on Dec. 7, 2006. The tree, a gift to the people of London from the people of Norway, has been donated by the Norwegian capital of Oslo since 1947, as a token of gratitude for Britain's support during World War II.
Moscow's St. Basil Cathedral is seen through a decorated Christmas tree at Red Square on Dec. 7, 2006. Russian Orthodox Christians will celebrate Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7, 2007.
China
A customer buys festive goods at a store selling Christmas decorations on Dec. 7, 2006, in Chongqing Municipality, China. Western traditions such as Christmas, Valentine's Day and Halloween have become increasingly popular among Chinese youth, as shops, restaurants and bars promote their business during these holidays.
Bethlehem
Christian pilgrims light candles at the Church of the Nativity, Jesus Christ's birthplace according to Christian tradition, in the biblical town of Bethlehem on Dec. 7, 2006. Palestinian Christians in the West Bank town are counting down towards Christmas, when they celebrate the birth of Christ.
Rome, Italy
A Christmas tree is lit by Rome's ancient Colosseum on Dec. 7, 2006. The 67-foot-tall tree comes from Val di Fiemme in the Italian Alps. Due to construction work at the traditional location of the Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia Square, this year's tree stands next to the Colosseum for the first time.
Athens, Greece
Christmas lights shine in front of the Parthenon on top of the ancient Acropolis Hill on Dec. 7, 2006. The city of Athens has planned a series of festivities for the Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays.
Hong Kong
Shoppers walk past Christmas decorations outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong on Dec. 6, 2006. Hong Kong is in full swing, with shops and malls packed on the weekends running up to Christmas Day.
Dresden, Germany
A view of the 572nd Christmas market in Dresden, Germany, on Nov. 29, 2006. You know it's Christmas time in Germany when, inexplicably and almost overnight, the public squares of most cities and towns are transformed into shopping bazaars. The markets in Germany have been a dominant part of the country's celebration of the Yuletide for hundreds of years.
Gavle, Sweden
Fireworks celebrate the construction of a giant straw Christmas goat in Gavle, Sweden, on Dec. 3 2006. The centuries-old Scandinavian Yule symbol precedes Santa as the bringer of gifts to Swedish homes. Vandals have burned the 43-foot-high goat 22 times since it was first set up on Dec. 3, 1966. For its 40th anniversary, officials doused the ram with flame-resistant chemicals normally used on airplanes.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The world biggest floating Christmas tree is surrounded by fireworks during the lighting ceremony at Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Dec. 2, 2006. The 269-foot-tall tree is decorated with 2.8 million light bulbs.
Bucharest, Romania
A Christmas tree built around a clock counting down the days left until Romania and Bulgaria will join the European Union is decorated with stars as Romanians attend a rock concert on the country's national day in Bucharest on Dec. 1, 2006. Romania will join the European Union on Jan. 1, 2007.
Berlin, Germany
People walk at the Christmas market on Gendarmenmarkt in downtown Berlin on Nov. 27, 2006. The traditional Christmas market is open to the public until Dec. 31.
Geneva, Switzerland
One of the "Travellers" created by French artist Cedric Le Borgne appears to land above the lakefront of Geneva, on Nov. 29, 2006, while the poplars of the Rousseau Island lighted by French artists are seen in the background during the sixth International Trees and Lights Festival. Artists from all over Europe decorate trees and create a Christmas atmosphere in prominent positions around the city.
Berlin, Germany
Visitors inspect the first of Berlin's so-called "Christmas Fountains" designed by light artist Nils-R. Schultze on Dec. 1, 2006. Since 2002, an energy supplier sponsors the light fountains, which are consecutively lit every Advent Sunday in the German capital.